The bill, sponsored by Georgia state GOP Rep. Andrew Welch and other Republican lawmakers, looks to establish a “Journalism Ethics Board” that could create “canons of ethics” and new regulations for journalists in the state, according to the legislation. The bill states journalists and news organizations “may be investigated and sanctioned for violating such canons of ethics” by the board, should it become law.
The “Ethics in Journalism Act,” if passed, could force media members to turn over audio recordings, video recordings and photographs upon request by the interview subject. The journalist would have to provide the materials for free.
If a journalist refuses to comply or takes longer than three business days to reply to a request, the bill could impose a $100 per day civil penalty, and the “court shall award reasonable litigation expenses and attorney fees to the individual bringing an action.”
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